Double posting? In one day? Are we the men’s blog? Thankfully not, though like the rest of the readers I am intrigued about ASouth’s dramatic tell-all that’s supposedly coming our way tomorrow. I’m back with my OG partner in crime NEW to preview Emory/Brandeis match. We were reminiscing about Indoors last year when she was texting me updates because I was camping all weekend in the woods of East Texas with my friend’s Mormon church group (it’s a long but wild story for another time) and I literally had to walk half a mile to the other side of the camp ground to get updates because my phone didn’t get signal in the cabin. It was the very definition of roughing it. Fortunately this year I will be available to be glued to my laptop all weekend like the rest of my blog fam. Anyways, read the preview below.
Who: #2 Seed/#3 Emory vs #7 Seed/#10 Brandeis
When and Where: Friday February 28 at 9am EST in Nicholasville, KY
Altitude of Nicholasville, KY: 938 feet
Match rundown:
NEW: In their match a week and a half ago, Brandeis was unable to field a full team – playing only 5 singles matches and 2 doubles matches. It looks like they might’ve lost Diana Dehterevich, their 1 singles and 1 dubs player. She’s no longer listed on the roster, and if this really is the case, that’s a crushing loss for the Judges. It looks like they still have 6 players on the team, but junior Summer Quinn hasn’t played in either of the first two matches of the season. For the sake of argument, I’m just going to stick her in at 6 singles, so this preview stars a full squad. If you start out 0-2 against any team, you’re going to have a battle, but you start 0-2 against Emory and you might as well kiss goodbye to a shot at a win. I’m hoping that all injuries have healed since then and the Judges can field a full squad, but this definitely brings worry into the equation, and if their team isn’t at full strength, I don’t think Emory will have any trouble dispatching them.
#1 doubles: Christina Watson/Stephanie Taylor (EU) vs. Lauren Bertsch/Rachel Zubrinsky (Brandeis)
NEW: This Brandeis pair played a close match with MIT’s top team, but Watson and Taylor are an experienced pair, and I’ve always thought Emory has an incredibly strong dubs program running. Bertsch and Zubrinsky have recently been paired up, so I’m sure they’re still adjusting, and by the time this match rolls around, they may not even be partners anymore. Regardless, I think that I’m going to go with the Eagles here. Emory 8-2.
ASW: I’m going to be totally honest — Watson and Taylor will be totally fine on Friday against Brandeis but this is going to be a weak spot in the lineup for the Eagles. They recently took a convincing loss to Czura and Owen of Sewanee that was pretty uncharacteristic of Emory’s doubles prowess and I can’t help but wonder if this duo is going to stay here the whole season. Regardless, Emory 8-1
#2 doubles: Ysabel Gonzalez-Rico/Jessica Fatemi (EU) vs. Ana Hatfield/Isabel Cepeda (Brandeis)
NEW: Wow, what a pair – Ysa and Fatemi. I’m just so in awe of Emory dubs right now even though they haven’t really played this season. Hatfield and Cepeda haven’t impressed me yet this season, and this is a really tough duo to stack up against. Barring any major issues, Emory definitely has the upper hand here and I’m betting will take home the win. Emory 8-1.
ASW: Now this on the other hand is an OP team. Ysa and Fatemi played together quite a bit last year as well and they were virtually unstoppable at this spot. I don’t think Hatfield and Cepeda are going to bring the goods on Friday. Emory 8-0
#3 doubles: Katelyn Thomas/Alexa Goetz (EU) vs. Grace Wang/Summer Quinn (Brandeis)
NEW: I’m hoping a match even gets played in this slot given this match was defaulted only last week vs. MIT. Hopefully Brandeis can be healthy enough to field this third dubs team, but frankly, it may not make a huge difference. As I’ve already mentioned, Emory is known for pretty solid dubs and I’m excited to see how Thomas and Goetz play together. Emory 8-0.
ASW: Katelyn Thomas is another one of Emory’s freshmen. The 4 star from Texas hasn’t seen much singles action so far, but is looking to be a staple in the Eagle’s doubles lineup this year. Emory’s all-freshman team is stacked with talent, and if they do have an opponent I think they will roll through the match. Emory 8-0
#1 singles: Ysabel Gonzalez-Rico (EU) vs. Lauren Bertsch (Brandeis)
NEW: Ysa is back from abroad and back at the top of the lineup – did anyone really think they could dethrone her? Anyways, while the junior might be still figuring out the kinks after going a few months with limited tennis, Bertsch has had a rough start to the season, losing to both Bryant and MIT and having to slide up into the #1 spot is certainly no easy task. Coming up against Ysa won’t be easy for her, even if Ysa is rusty from being abroad. I think Ysa is just too strong for Bertsch to overcome, especially with having to adjust to playing #1. Emory 6-1. 6-0.
ASW: Ysa is back and she is healthy, and I don’t see the defending NCAA champion being in any danger of dropping this match. Brandeis’s season isn’t off to the best start and Bertsch is going to have to find her groove at the #1 spot if she hopes to win matches against top teams like Emory. Ysa may have some rust from her but at this point she is a seasoned veteran and I anticipate she will navigate this one with ease. Emory 6-2, 6-0
#2 singles: Defne Olcay (EU) vs. Ana Hatfield (Brandeis)
NEW: Hatfield played a close match against MIT last weekend, but she’ll have to be on fire if she wants to challenge Olcay. Olcay is just such a steady and consistent player for the Eagles, and even though she has moved up the lineup a few spots this year, I think she’ll be able to dominate in a similar fashion to what we’ve seen in years past. Emory 6-2, 6-1.
ASW: Olcay was a beast for the Eagles last year at #3 singles and certainly deserves her spot in the lineup. Depending on how the season goes I can see her and Alexa Goetz switching spots by May but we shall see. Regardless, on Friday Olcay will be at a strong advantage against Brandeis sophomore Hatfield, who might be driven mad by Olcay’s consistency. Emory 6-1, 6-3
#3 singles: Alexa Goetz (EU) vs. Rachel Zubrinsky (Brandeis)
NEW: Wow, Emory’s standout fall player does not appear in the lineup until the third spot. After winning her ITA regional in the fall and then having a strong performance at the ITA Cup, I’m expecting big things from the Eagle freshman. Zubrinsky pushed her Bryant opponent to three sets, but that was when she was playing #4, and that Bryant player wasn’t Alexa Goetz. One of the two most hyped freshmen (the other being CMS’ Leong), Goetz has started her college career strong, and I think she’ll continue that fashion against Brandeis in her Indoors debut. Emory 6-1, 6-1.
ASW: I picked Goetz as my player to watch this weekend, admittedly not because of this match-up against Brandeis. Goetz is the rookie in this match and Brandeis junior Zubrinsky would be smart to play safely and hope Goetz gets nervous. Unfortunately for Brandeis I don’t see the baby Eagle getting shaken by the big stage. Emory 6-2, 6-1
#4 singles: Christina Watson (EU) vs. Isabel Cepeda (Brandeis)
NEW: We’re getting into familiar territory for Emory – these bottom three players anchored the lineup last year, and Emory has long been known for having some of the best 4-6 players in the country. The Brandeis junior will have to bring it against Watson, who is incredibly consistent and one of the strongest 4s out there. Emory 6-2, 6-1.
ASW: Cristina Watson stepped up big for her team in post-season play last year. Unfortunately it wasn’t enough to get them through that semifinal match against Wesleyan, but this is a new year and Watson has even more experience under her belt. I don’t know much about Cepeda but she’ll have to bring it on Friday if she wants this match to be close. Emory 6-3, 6-0
#5 singles: Emma Cartledge (EU) vs. Grace Wang (Brandeis)
NEW: Brandeis’ lone freshman will have a lot to prove against Emory’s Cartledge. We know how good Cartledge is, and Wang didn’t impress too much against MIT and Bryant. But this is a new week and a new opportunity to prove herself. I don’t think she has it in her to upset Cartledge just yet, but this will be a key match to see how she comes out swinging. Emory 6-1, 6-1.
ASW: Cartledge clinched the championship for Emory at last year’s indoors, and the indoor courts are well suited to her game. She should be comfortable in this match and will be going for her shots. Wang’s strategy will be hoping Cartledge makes a bunch of unforced errors. Emory 6-1, 6-0
#6 singles: Jessica Fatemi (EU) vs. Summer Quinn (Brandeis)
NEW: Ok, so Summer Quinn hasn’t *actually* played a match this season, yet, but I’m hoping she’ll make an appearance and complete the full Brandeis lineup this weekend. Fatemi isn’t an easy opponent, and Quinn would definitely have her work cut out for her, but we want to see a match, any match, being played here. Either way, Emory’s taking this one home 6-0, 6-0.
ASW: Jessica Fatemi could be anywhere in the bottom half of the Eagle’s lineup and be extremely successful. She’s been chilling at the #6 spot where she has an obvious advantage against (almost) any team in the country. Emory 6-0, 6-1
Overall prediction:
NEW: Emory 9-0
ASW: Emory 9-0